Sarah Gunn fundraises for Dad, John, who died from Covid-19, to help National Kidney Federation

News provided by National Kidney Federation on Thursday 14th May 2020

I wanted to something positive during my bereavement leave that helps other people going through the same thing my Dad went through

Sarah Gunn sadly lost her father, John, 74, from Barwell, Leicestershire to COVID-19. He had end stage kidney failure and had dialysis three times a week at the Hamilton Renal Dialysis Unit in Leicester to keep him alive. Patients with chronic kidney disease and end stage kidney failure have to adjust to many difficult changes in the way they live their life’s. That’s why Sarah has decided to walk, run and cycle 150 miles during May for the National Kidney Federation.

The charity is run by kidney patients for kidney patients, supporting the three million people with Chronic Kidney Disease in the UK. Around 63,000 patients are being treated for kidney failure.

John enjoyed family day trips on his canal cruiser, loved holidaying in Cornwall and adored his two dogs. “Having dialysis is very life changing, talking to other people who are going through your situation can really help in accepting and understanding it. Being 74, my dad wasn't a great user of modern technology so my mum used the National Kidney Federation website and Facebook page for advice and information on everything from dietary changes, to medical information, to holiday dialysis so that he could carry on living life as best as he could.”

“I wanted to something positive during my bereavement leave that helps other people going through the same thing my Dad went through, something to keep me motivated. I thought combining cycling, running and walking would be an ideal challenge! I picked 150 miles because I wanted it to be manageable with my recurrent anterior crucial ligament injury from years of figure skating.”

“The NFK patients’ helpline is free to use and offers medical information leaflets, help and advice – with trained staff answering hundreds of calls each week. The service has seen a large increase since COVID-19 and is supported entirely by generous donations and through supporters such as Sarah.

Without Sarah’s support, we would be unable to offer the services to kidney patients!” says Pete Revell, Head of Fundraising.

Sarah is completing the challenge in the villages around where she lives, Stoke Golding in Leicestershire. She is returning to work at Leicester Royal Infirmary so will be fitting in the mileage between working in the hospital as a Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician.

“My inspiration for this challenge will always be the spirit and courage that of my Dad, John”